The castle at Castell de Ferro, which was originally built around 1300, is very much the worse for wear – some believe that it is on the point of collapsing, thanks to a sizable crack through one of its three remaining walls.

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Fortunately, the townsfolk are not willing to sit around and watch this happen and have accordingly launched a facebook compaign to attract support for this monument, which has a BIC category (Bien de Interés Cultural). They have also launched a signature-collection web page, the contents of which they hope to be able to put before the authorities to have something done to prevent it quite literally falling into oblivion.

The PP Mayor, Eloy Martín, says that there is a reason for its present crumbling state: the castle is private property, therefore the Junta cannot set aside any public funds whilst it is not in public hands. The Mayor explained that prior to passing into private ownership, it belonged to the Guardia Civil.

The owner concerned is property-developer, Rafael Crosa, who wants to cede the castle to the municipality but municipal regulations do not permit it to be segregated from the land (the hillside) on which it stands.

If the castle does fall down the hillside, it’s not just a case of “Oh, dear, what a pity!” because somebody could be taken to court over it.

(News: Castell de Ferro, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)